Moving Bikes, Trampolines and Big Kids' Toys in Jeddah

Big kids' toys: oddly shaped pieces that get forgotten in the moving plan

When we plan a move for a home with children we remember beds, wardrobes and appliances, and we often forget the oddly shaped things children love: bicycles of all sizes, scooters, a backyard trampoline, swings and plastic slides, playhouses, activity tables, a small football goal, ball pits and strollers. These pieces take up a lot of truck space for their weight, and they are fragile at the same time: tubes bend, plastic cracks, springs can hurt a hand and small parts disappear easily. If they are not prepared properly they arrive broken or incomplete, and a child is in tears.

This page explains how we handle each type, what to prepare before the move and how to reassemble in the new home. The advice is general; every product has a manufacturer's manual that should be consulted, especially on dismantling, assembly, weight limits and safety.

Bicycles and scooters

A bicycle looks easy to move but it takes space, can scratch furniture and can be damaged by crowding. The best method is to remove the front wheel and turn or lower the handlebars, take off the pedals if they unscrew, then wrap the sharp parts and the chain in cloth or cardboard, because chain oil dirties other belongings. The bike travels upright or leaning, strapped in place, not laid flat under heavy boxes. A folding scooter is folded and its locking clamp secured. An electric scooter has a battery which must be handled according to the manufacturer's instructions; it is usually removed and carried with the family rather than in the truck, since batteries need special precautions.

The backyard trampoline: the most dangerous for hands

The trampoline needs more caution than almost anything else when dismantled. It usually has a metal frame, a jumping mat stretched by many springs, a safety net and poles. While the springs are being removed one may recoil and injure a hand or face, so they are taken off with proper tools and care, and children are kept away. We sort the springs into numbered bags, wrap the frame and poles together, and protect the net from tearing. At the new home it is reassembled on level ground, clear of walls, trees and overhead obstacles, following the maker's instructions. If an old trampoline is rusty or has damaged springs, reconsider whether to move it at all, because the child's safety matters more.

Swings, slides and playhouses

Metal swing sets usually come apart into a top beam, legs, chains and seats. We keep bolts and nuts for each set in one bag labelled with the part name. Plastic slides and playhouses are cleaned, dried and taken apart into their sections where possible, and edges are wrapped to prevent cracking, and carried carefully because thin plastic can snap under pressure. In Jeddah's heat plastic can become more brittle after long sun exposure, so do not leave it for hours in the sun before carrying, and avoid placing heavy items on it in the truck.

Strollers and small baby equipment

Strollers, car seats, walkers and travel cots are essentials in a family's life and must arrive undamaged. A stroller is folded with its lock, wrapped in a cover to protect the fabric, and kept near the family if there is an infant so that it is available immediately after arrival. Car seats are best kept with the family in the car because they may be needed at any time. Check the limits and instructions for your own products.

Gaming equipment and electronic toys

Game consoles, accessories and small screens need shock-absorbing wrapping and numbered cables. Photograph the back of the device before unplugging cables so you know where they go when reconnecting, and keep controllers with the family. See TV and screen moving if you have a large screen in the playroom.

Indoor play areas: tents, ball pits and inflatables

Many homes have a playroom with fabric tents, ball pits, inflatable toys and a soft mat. These are light but take lots of room. You can save space by deflating inflatables and folding them carefully, and washing the mat and drying it thoroughly before rolling it so it does not go mouldy. Small plastic balls go into mesh bags or tightly closed boxes so they do not scatter in the truck. It helps to keep a small bag of your child's favourite toys with you in the car so they have something to occupy them if the rest of the belongings are delayed.

Cleaning and sanitising toys before wrapping

Toys that have been used for years collect dust and dirt, especially outdoor ones. Wash plastic ones with water and mild soap and dry them, wipe metal ones with a slightly damp cloth, then let them dry completely before wrapping. This stops dirt travelling to your new home and prevents mould growing inside sealed wrappers. For fabric toys and dolls, wash them in the machine if they allow it, or air them in brief early-morning sun, then pack them in clean bags.

Table: the item and the suitable preparation

Organising screws and small parts

What most often goes missing from big toys is the small parts: bolts, nuts, rings and plastic tube caps. Follow a simple rule: one clear bag per piece, labelled with its name and the number of parts, and tape it to the piece itself so it cannot separate. Photograph the piece assembled before taking it apart; that picture becomes your guide. If a part is lost, ask the dealer or manufacturer for an original replacement, and do not use unsuitable substitutes on pieces children climb on.

Safety first: do not let children help dismantle

However keen children are to help, dismantling big toys is not a job for them. Sharp ends, springs and metal tubes can hurt their hands. Give them a safe task, such as gathering small toys into their own box, and keep them away from the dismantling area. In the new home, do not assemble a piece before checking it carefully, and do not allow play on it until you are sure it is stable and secured. If the piece needs anchoring to the ground or wall, do so according to the instructions.

When to dismantle a piece yourself and when to use a team

Some pieces are simple: a bicycle needing one or two spanners, or a swing with visible bolts. Others need skill, tools and more than one person, such as a large trampoline, assembled wooden playhouses and heavy ground-anchored metal swing sets. If you are not confident, use an experienced team, because a mistake in dismantling can damage the piece or hurt the person doing it. Before the appointment, take photos of the piece from several angles and send them to us, so we can decide whether the job needs two workers or more and what tools are required.

How we arrange these pieces in the truck

Light but bulky pieces such as slides and plastic playhouses usually go on top of the load or in a side space where nothing presses on them, while dismantled metal goes at the bottom, arranged by length. We strap long pieces so they do not shift on bends, and keep bags of bolts away from sharp parts. These items are unloaded before others if they will be assembled in the garden or yard, so that assembly can start early instead of waiting until the end of the day.

Reassembly in the new home: where do these toys go?

Think about where big toys will go before the move. Outdoor toys need level ground and shade or cover from Jeddah's strong sun, and a trampoline needs wide space with nothing above or around it. Bicycles need somewhere to be kept indoors or in a covered parking area away from the damp that rusts chains and metal. If the new home is an apartment with no yard, you may not want to keep something like a large swing; you can give it away or store it temporarily using our storage service. See getting rid of old furniture before moving to help decide.

Humidity and heat: how they affect toys

High temperatures make some plastics more brittle, and humidity rusts metal parts that are not well coated. Before wrapping, wash toys and dry them thoroughly, because damp wrapped toys go mouldy and rust. Do not leave them in a closed car or on an open balcony. In the truck we place them where nothing presses on them and avoid heavy boxes on top. After arrival, check them before children use them, and make sure there are no cracks, rust or missing parts.

Seasonal toys and temporary storage

Some toys are used only in certain seasons, such as plastic paddling pools and water and sand toys. If the new home cannot hold them now, store them temporarily after cleaning, drying and wrapping until you need them. That is cheaper than buying replacements later or carrying things you do not need today.

Including your child in the move

Children are affected when they see their favourite toys taken apart and disappear into boxes. Explain that the toy will not be lost but will travel with them to the new home and return as before. You can give a small task, such as sticking a label on the box holding their toys or drawing a mark that identifies their box. If they have a favourite big toy, make reassembling it the first job in the new home so they have something reassuring on day one. These small details reduce stress and make the move a less strange experience. See our guide to moving house with kids for a fuller plan for moving day.

Common mistakes

• Leaving big toys to the last minute and then finding they need dismantling and special tools.
• Rushing to dismantle a trampoline without allowing for spring recoil.
• Mixing bolts from different pieces in one box.
• Placing heavy boxes on slides and plastic playhouses in the truck.
• Carrying an electric scooter's battery in the truck without following the instructions.
• Letting children play on pieces before they are checked and secured in the new home.

How we help

Tell us when you book that you have bicycles, a trampoline, swings, playhouses or any large children's item, with approximate dimensions, so we send suitable tools and workers and reserve space in the truck. We can dismantle what can be dismantled, wrap it and reassemble it in the new home as far as possible; for details see our furniture dismantling and assembly service and packing service. Call us or message us on WhatsApp with photos of the pieces so the estimate is accurate.